Plant Details

Trapa natans

Water Chestnut

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Trapa natans.

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General Information

Scientific name: Trapa natans
Also known as: Water Chestnut

Plant Properties

Layer: Aquatic
Size: Small
Height: 0.20 m
Width: - m
Growth Rate: None
Leaf: None

Growth conditions

USDA Hardiness: 6-12
Soil Moisture:
Wet
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral
Light:
Full sun

Usage properties

Edible part:
Seed
Edibility:
(4)
Medicinal:
(0)
Features:
None

Description

Seeds can be eaten raw, but also cooked or dried and ground into powder. They have a sweet, floral, and pleasant taste, similar to chestnuts. Various reports indicate that the seeds can contain up to 50% starch, while other reports vary between 16% starch and 3% protein, and 15% protein and 7.5% fat. It seems that these reports are not discussing the same types of seeds. One report warns that raw seeds contain toxic substances that are destroyed by cooking them.

Harvest Data

Start Harvest: 01/10
End of Harvest: 31/10